Three prisoners have fled from an open jail and are currently on the run from the police, as the public are warned not to approach them.
Jason MacDonagh, 34, Daniel Harty, 34 and Barney Casey, 24, all escaped from Springhill Open Prison near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire on Monday evening.
They were all wearing standard issue grey tacksuits or jogging bottoms.
MacDonagh is described as being a white man with ginger hair, he is around 5ft 9in tall and of medium build.
Casey is also a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of small build and has black hair.
While Harty is a white man with black hair and a black beard of slim build and the same height.
The three men were jailed for a £300,000 cash and jewellery heist after they raided more than 50 homes in 2023.
The masked gang would target addresses and force their way inside either by smashing windows or forcing open locked gates and doors.
Shocking CCTV footage shows the gang raiding mostly empty properties. In one clip two of the crooks remove a bay window while traffic passes yards away.
In another security video, the gang break into a home where a woman was in at the time.
Footage shows the woman screaming in terror before the crooks flee empty handed.
Jason MacDonaugh (pictured) is described as being a white man with ginger hair, he is around 5ft 9in tall and of medium build
Daniel Harty is a white man with black hair and a black beard of slim build and the same height
Barney Casey, pictured, is also a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of small build and has black hair.
The gang were finally caught after detectives scoured hours of CCTV which captured them using two getaway cars, an Audi R3 and a VW Golf, on false plates.
Jason MacDonaugh was identified as the buyer and seller of the Audi. Police were then able to connect his associates to the crimes which also saw them strike near Bristol and Warwickshire.
Phone records also linked the gang to the location of the burglaries.
Police also identified fellow gang members Darren O’Halloran, 38, and Barney Casey, 22, to Yorkshire where they were arrested in early February.
The fourth member of the gang, Daniel Harty, 32, was arrested in Wales later the same month.
The four, originally from Ireland, were convicted of conspiracy to burgle following a trial.
They were jailed for a total of almost 50 years at Birmingham Crown Court.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said that the trio of men had connections with many addresses in the UK and even the Republic of Ireland.
‘Investigators are appealing for the public’s help in tracing three prison absconders,’ said the spokesman.
‘Jason MacDonagh, aged 34 years, Daniel Harty, also aged 34 years and Barney Casey, aged 24 years, all absconded from HMP Springhill at around 6pm on Monday.
‘MacDonagh is a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build and has ginger hair. He has facial hair and was last seen wearing grey tracksuit trousers and a white vest.
‘Casey is also a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of small build and has black hair. He has slight facial hair and a moustache and goatee beard. He was last seen wearing a grey tracksuit.
Members of the gang captured on CCTV during a burglary
A man dressed in black and wearing a balaclava enters the window of the shop
The masked gang used tools to pry open windows at the property
‘Harty is a white man, at around 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build with black hair and a black beard. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and grey joggers.
‘They are known to frequent Bristol, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Leeds, Bradford, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.’
Police staff investigator, Claire Busby said: ‘We are appealing to the public for any information around MacDonagh, Casey and Harty’s whereabouts, or anyone who may see them to get in touch.
‘We would advise members of the public not to approach them, but to call 999 instead. If you have any information as to where they may be, you can call 101. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.’
